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PRESS RELEASE BY THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARIAT FOR EUROPEAN FUNDS AND SOCIAL DIALOGUE AND THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARIAT FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILTIY AND ACTIVE AGEING

Parliamentary Secretary for Persons with Disability and Active Ageing
Anthony Agius Decelis and Parliamentary Secretary for European Funds and Social
Dialogue Aaron Farrugia launched the INK project, which aims to continue to
strengthen the social inclusion of persons with disability when it comes to
engaging in employment. The project, co-financed by the European Union through
the European Social Fund, has a total budget of €3.3 million.

Parliamentary Secretary for European Funds and Social Dialogue Aaron
Farrugia stated that the project is part of a plan which intends to help
vulnerable people enter the labour market. He noted that the project will aid
300 people with special needs, 450 members of their family, and a number of
employers.

Parliamentary Secretary for Persons with Disability and Active Ageing
Anthony Agius Decelis stated that it is not enough to train persons with a
disability. Hence, apart from individualised training for persons with
disability, the project will include training for persons who are in contact
with such persons, including family members, employers and professionals in the
sector. Anthony Agius Decelis reiterated that the innovative aspect of this
project is that recognition will be given to employers who abide by the
guidelines for accessible employment provided by the Commission for the Rights
of Persons with a Disability (CRPD), following a site audit of the
organisation.

The project will be managed and implemented by Aġenżija Sapport. Other
organisations involved in this project are CRPD, as regulator, and an Irish
organisation, KARE. Furthermore, over the three-year period, around 80
participants will have study-visits in Ireland, where they can share their
experiences in the project, hence promoting peer-learning.

Parliamentary Secretary Farrugia explained that this project, which is
financed by the European Social Fund, will result in:

i)
The opening of 6 independent living hubs, one of which is in Gozo so that
people with

special needs will be given
more help;

ii)
Training that will be given to people with special needs, their families and
employers;

iii)
A campaign which includes television and radio programmes;

iv)
Recognition that will be geared to incentivize both the beneficiary as well the
firm on

the direct involvement and
participation in the labour market;

v)
Information packs which will be handed out.

The Parliamentary Secretary said that the Government’s strategy in this
sector is one where each project is connected to each other. He mentioned that
together with Minister Evarist Bartolo, a similar project (The VASTE Programme)
was already launched, where vulnerable people are being aided in order to makes
sure that they enter the labour market. Aaron Farrugia said that in contrast to
what others used to do, this Government is enforcing the quota which concerns
people with special needs in the workforce, where employers who employ more
than 20 people are obliged to have at least 2% of their workforce who are
people with special needs. “As a Government, we want to see that that
vulnerable people are given the necessary aid so that even they can contribute
to society”, concluded Aaron Farrugia.